The Amazing World Of Aviation Series - 13-Part

Soar back to the beginnings of flight to see how innovators such as Benjamin Franklin and Leonardo DaVinci devised new ways to give man wings. Explore the invention of hot air balloons Zeppelins box kites and the story of the most influential aviation inventors of all-Wilbur and Orville Wright.

Flying an early airplane required skill courage and a sense of adventure. The advent of the movie camera meant that their exploits could be broadcast to every corner of the globe and recorded for posterity. The WWII pilots who were able to master combat flying were known as "Air Aces."

The decades following the First World War saw aircraft designers pushing the boundaries of aeronautical technology moving the industry forward at a rapid pace. With new commercial markets opening up it was visionaries who held the key to success.

In the years following WWI flying took off as a serious business. Previously unimagined opportunities opened up-among them skywriting and sightseeing tours. Flying became a bigger feature of life around the world not just as a novelty "adventure" for the rich but as a mode of transport for many.

Seaplanes saw the dawn of the aviation industry as they could transport large numbers of passengers between continents and only required a smooth body of water to land. Advances in floatplane technology since the 1920s have continued to make seaplanes an extremely popular mode of transportation.

On May 15th 1941 the first experimental jet engine raced over England for 17 minutes at a top speed of 545km per hour. British aviation expert and aeronautical engineer Sir Frank Whittle invented this jet engine and ushered in a new era of air travel.

Airlines sprang up everywhere catering to the demands of passengers wanting to go just about anywhere but the flights were only domestic. Pre-war travel was a luxury afforded only by the rich but post-war the emphasis was on comfort and customer service for both the rich and middle class.

Early airfields prioritized utility over comfort. As the popularity of air transport increased cities recognized the need to provide better service to passengers and airports grew in design to become the hubs of activity and convenience they are today.

Britain and France collaborated to build the world's first Concorde a jet that could traverse the Atlantic in just 3 hours at twice the speed of sound. The all-metal Trident jet was a popular choice for airlines but couldn't compete with the glamour and allure of the Concorde.

The Boeing 737 twin-engine jetliner was Boeing's first great success operable even at smaller airports with shorter runways. Despite all its advantages the 737 was soon overshadowed by the new improved 747 Jumbo Jet.

Initially regulators insisted that all passenger aircraft be powered by at least three engines but the development of more sophisticated airplanes eventually made twin-engine long-distance travel feasible.

The Boeing 787 and its competitor the Airbus A380 revolutionized air travel once more. Made from fiber-reinforced materials they are lighter and have a reduced carbon footprint while improving space comfort and entertainment for their passengers.

Space tourism is the new frontier for the aviation industry. The US government initiated its X-30 National Aero-Space Plane research in 1986 but the program didn't last long. Now private companies have moved into space research promoting this new tourist destination.